Bilateral Cardiac Sympathetic Denervation for Refractory Multifocal Premature Ventricular Contractions in Patients With Nonischemic Cardiomyopathy.

Background: Bilateral cardiac sympathetic denervation (BCSD) for refractory life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias is a neuromodulatory intervention targeting sympathetically driven focal or re-entrant ventricular arrhythmias.

Objectives: This study sought to provide a more complete and successful option for intervention in patients in whom premature ventricular contraction (PVC) ablation is not feasible or has been unsuccessful.

Methods: A total of 43 patients with >5% PVC burden and concomitant nonischemic cardiomyopathy (NICM) who previously failed medical and ablation therapies were referred for BCSD.

Impact of Cardiac Implantable Electronic Devices on Cost and Length of Stay in Patients With Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement and Transcutaneous Aortic Valve Implantation.

Surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) and transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) in aortic stenosis are associated with arrhythmic complications that can require cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) implantation, but impact on healthcare-associated cost (HAC) and length of stay (LOS) are unknown. This study aimed to assess differences among SAVR/TAVI patients with CIED implantation on HAC and LOS. Patients hospitalized for SAVR or TAVI between 2011 and 2017 on the National Inpatient Sample database were identified and stratified according to presence/type of CIED implantation.

Management of atrial fibrillation in rheumatic heart disease.

Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is the underlying cause of a significant proportion of atrial fibrillation (AF) in the low- and middle-income countries, while nonvalvular AF is the most common cause of AF in high-income countries. RHD is also common among African Americans, migrants, and the indigenous population of high-income countries. The onset of AF in RHD patients is a clinical marker of worse outcomes and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality.

Outcomes in congenital and childhood complete atrioventricular block: A meta-analysis.

Background: The long-term outcomes of patients with congenital and childhood complete atrioventricular block (CCAVB/CAVB) after pacemaker implantation are unclear.

Methods: We performed a meta-analysis of all the studies of CCAVB. A systematic search of PubMed and CENTRAL databases from January 1, 1967 to January 31, 2020 was performed.

Ribosomal protein S6 kinase beta-1 gene variants cause hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Background: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a genetic heart muscle disease with preserved or increased ejection fraction in the absence of secondary causes. Mutations in the sarcomeric protein-encoding genes predominantly cause HCM. However, relatively little is known about the genetic impact of signalling proteins on HCM.

Angiography-guided mid/high septal implantation of ventricular leads in patients with congenital heart disease.

Background: Conduction system pacing prevents pacing-induced cardiomyopathy, but it can be challenging to perform in patients with congenital heart disease (CHD), and mid/high septal lead implantation is an alternative. This study aimed to assess intraprocedural angiography's utility as a guide for mid/high-septal lead implantation in CHD patients.

Methods: The study subjects were CHD patients with Class I/IIa indications for permanent pacemaker implantation.

A histological study of the atria in patients with isolated rheumatic mitral regurgitation with and without atrial fibrillation.

Background: There is a high incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with isolated rheumatic mitral regurgitation (MR). The histopathologic changes in the atria of patients with isolated rheumatic MR with and without AF are unknown.

Objectives: We aimed to determine the histological findings in patients with isolated severe rheumatic MR with and without AF.

Computed tomography validated right ventricular mid-septal lead implantation using right ventricular angiography.

Background: Right ventricular (RV) mid-septal pacing has been proposed as an alternative to RV apical pacing. Fluoroscopic and electrocardiogram criteria are unreliable for predicting the RV mid-septal lead position. This study aimed to define the optimal RV mid-septal pacing site using RV angiography.

Safety and Efficacy of Ibutilide for Acute Pharmacological Cardioversion of Rheumatic Atrial Fibrillation.

Introduction: Ibutilide is indicated for acute cardioversion of nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AF). However, its efficacy and safety in the pharmacological cardioversion of rheumatic AF are unknown.

Methods: Patients with mild-to-moderate rheumatic mitral valve (MV) disease with symptomatic, paroxysmal, or persistent AF were included in the analysis.

A randomized study of yoga therapy for the prevention of recurrent reflex vasovagal syncope.

Aims: Vasovagal syncope (VVS) is a common cardiovascular dysautonomic disorder that significantly impacts health and quality of life (QoL). Yoga has been shown to have a positive influence on cardiovascular autonomics. This study assessed the effectiveness of yoga therapy on the recurrence of VVS and QoL.

Effects of permanent cardiac pacing on ventricular repolarization when compared to cardioneuroablation.

Introduction: The impact of cardioneuroablation (CNA) on ventricular repolarization by using corrected QT interval (QTc) measurements has been recently demonstrated. The effects of cardiac pacing (CP) on ventricular repolarization have not been studied in patients with vasovagal syncope (VVS). We sought to compare ventricular repolarization effects of CNA (group 1) with CP (group 2) in patients with VVS.

Effect of fluoroscopy frame rate on radiation exposure and in-hospital outcomes in three-dimensional electroanatomic mapping guided procedures.

Background: Fluoroscopic imaging involves exposure of the patients and the laboratory staff to ionizing radiation. One of the strategies that reduce such exposure in an electrophysiology laboratory is using a three-dimensional electroanatomic mapping (3D EAM) system for performing these procedures. In this analysis, we have analyzed the effect of fluoroscopy frame rate on the radiation exposure and in-hospital outcomes in ablation procedures performed under 3D EAM guidance.

The benefit of cardioneuroablation to reduce syncope recurrence in vasovagal syncope patients: a case-control study.

Background: Adequate and effective therapy for resistant vasovagal syncope patients is lacking and the benefit of cardioneuroablation (CNA) in this cohort is still debated. The aim of this study is to assess the long-term effect of CNA versus conservative therapy (CT) in a retrospectively followed cohort.

Methods: A total of 2874 patients underwent head-up tilt test (HUT) and 554 (19.

Adiponectin receptor 1 variants contribute to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy that can be reversed by rapamycin.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a heterogeneous genetic heart muscle disease characterized by hypertrophy with preserved or increased ejection fraction in the absence of secondary causes. However, recent studies have demonstrated that a substantial proportion of individuals with HCM also have comorbid diabetes mellitus (~10%). Whether genetic variants may contribute a combined phenotype of HCM and diabetes mellitus is not known.

Impact of Yoga on Cardiac Autonomic Function and Arrhythmias.

With the expanding integration of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) practices in conjunction with modern medicine, yoga has quickly risen to being one of the most common CAM practices across the world. Despite widespread use of yoga, limited studies are available, particularly in the setting of dysrhythmia. Preliminary studies demonstrate promising results from integration of yoga as an adjunct to medical therapy for management of dysrhythmias.

Does the use of intracardiac echocardiography during atrial fibrillation catheter ablation improve outcomes and cost? A nationwide 14-year analysis from 2001 to 2014.

Background: Intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) use during catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) provides real-time information to guide transseptal access, for monitoring the ablation and recognition of pericardial bleed. We describe trends of ICE use, impact on complications, and its in-hospital outcomes.

Methods: The national in-patient sample database was queried from 2001 to 2014 for diagnosis of AF based on ICD-9-CM 427.

What are the atrioventricular delays in right ventricular apical and septal pacing for optimal hemodynamics in patients with normal left ventricular function?

Introduction: There is a surge of interest in alternate site pacing to prevent pacing-induced left ventricular dysfunction. However, little is known regarding the appropriate atrioventricular (AV) delay between right ventricular (RV) septal and RV apical pacing for optimal hemodynamic benefit.

Objectives: To determine the programmed values of atrial sensed and atrial paced AV delays in basal RV septal and apical RV pacing that results in the maximum delivered stroke volume (SV).